Help Fight Breast Cancer. Play in the Bad Beat Poker Challenge, Thurs., Nov. 12
As announced recently on PokerNews.com, the poker community is coming together to help raise breast cancer awareness with the Bad Beat on Cancer Challenge (BBOCC). Featuring over $24,000 worth of prizes, this $10 buy-in tournament (rebuys allowed through the first hour with a 3,000 chip add-on) is set to donate all proceeds from the event to the Prevent Cancer Foundation and will take place on Pokerstars.com. It is listed in pink in the Tournament/Private section.
In case you missed it in our previous story on the BBOCC, the tournament is being held in honor of East Coast poker player Nicole Rowe, who finished second to a male player at Borgata's Ladies Event in Atlantic City. Despite facing breast cancer surgery, Rowe played the role of a true champion by not saying a bad word about her opponent or complaining about her battle with cancer. Instead of getting down about her problems, she is using her experiences to help others with the disease. To many within the poker industry, she exemplifies what a true champion is. Her courageous story has inspired a number of people in the poker community to come together to help raise breast cancer awareness through this special event.
To attract players, a sick prize pool has been amassed by event organizer and PokerNews senior writer Michael Friedman. According to Friedman, there is plenty of value to be had by participating players. "As with many online charity events, it is a challenge to attract players, so we went out of our way to find prizes that offer players plenty of value for their donations. Considering that the top 50 winners will take something home, there is plenty to play for. From trips to Los Angeles to be on the set of the "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" to personal coaching from poker elite like Daniel Negreanu, there is something special for everyone."
For a $10 buy-in ($.01 goes to the prize pool and $9.99 goes to the charity), a player has a shot at a VIP trip to the set of the Pokerstars.net Million Dollar Challenge, a lifetime subscription to Deucescracked.com, a WSOP Academy seat, coaching from several of the game's top players including the "Two Months Two Million" cast, Negreanu, Jamie Gold, Matt Glantz, Vanessa Rousso, Tom Schneider and Tom McEvoy, as well as a number of special prizes that enable winners to get up-close-and-personal with the likes of Phil Gordon, and PokerRoad's Joe Sebok and Gavin Smith. Other prizes include a Borgata Triple Play tournament package, a Poker Players International tournament voucher and the Bluff Magazine adventure, which takes the winner on a personal tour of the world's leading sports television network.
"With many of these prizes, we've tried to add a special value that makes them worthwhile for players. Whether it is playing a round of golf with Phil Gordon in Las Vegas or partying with Joe Sebok and Gavin Smith, we tried to create personalized prizes that would give winners a positive experience. There are also several ways to add to the value of your prize because several pay out tournament entries such as the Borgata Triple Play Getaway and the PPI tournament voucher. In addition, thanks to the wealth of pros offering one-on-one coaching, the WSOP Academy seat and the Deucescracked.com lifetime subscription, there are many ways to improve your game for just $10. Many of these pros charge a lot of money for coaching sessions and they are in high demand, so this is a chance to learn how to win from the game's top players on the cheap," Friedman said.
Please help spread the word about this worthy cause through Twitter, Facebook and email. The prize pool is valued at $24,158 and only seven players are currently signed up, which means there are plenty of ridiculous prizes available. You can contribute to raising cancer awareness just by spreading the word and getting friends to sign up.
The Bad Beat on Cancer Challenge Prize Pool
1st Place:Two Months, Two Million Scholarship
The cast of Two Months, Two Million donated a lifetime subscription to Deucescracked.com, the site that helped shape the game of the hit show's four pros. This prize is valued at $10,000 but could be worth much more down the road.
2nd Place: Pokernews PokerStars.Net Million Dollar Challenge VIP Experience
A VIP package donated by PokerNews and PokerStars that will see the winner attend the taping of the show (two days) and have a meet-n-greet with celebrities like Jerome Bettis, mixed martial arts fighter Tito Ortiz, reigning Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole, and top poker pros Chris Moneymaker, Vanessa Rousso, Barry Greenstein and Daniel Negreanu. The winner will receive $1,000 for travel expenses and a two-night stay at the Universal Sheraton in Hollywood. Value: $2,500.
3rd Place: WSOP Academy or Cash Game Seat
The winner will have a choice between attending any two-day WSOP Academy or Cash Game Academy courtesy of the WSOP Academy. This is a chance to spend hands-on time with the topflight instructors selected for each session. Value: $1,899.
4th Place: The Borgata Triple Play Getaway
A two-night stay at Borgata's beautiful Water Club in Atlantic City and entry into Borgata's Triple Play tournament courtesy of Massive Impact Productions. This is the perfect getaway for anyone looking to enjoy the finer side of A.C. while taking a shot at what is expected to be a monster prize pool this December. Value: $1,050.
5th Place: Two Months, Two Million Boot Camp*
One hour of instruction from Two Months, Two Million stars Jason "pr1nnyraid" Rosenkrantz and Emil "WhiteLime" Patel. Learn tips that let these poker vultures pick apart their prey. Value: $1,000.
6th Place: Two Months, Two Million Boot Camp*
One hour of instruction from Two Months, Two Million stars Dani "Ansky" Stern and Brian "Flawless_victory" Roberts. Get the inside scoop on how these guys crush the game. Value: $1,000.
7th Place: Phil Gordon’s Day on the Greens
Play a round of golf with World Poker Tour winner and Bad Beat spokesman Phil Gordon at the Anthem Country Club in Las Vegas. Phil will even give a few strokes to add to the fun. Value: $850. Good through March 2010.
8th Place: The PokerRoad Happy Hour
Spend happy hour with PokerRoad pros Joe Sebok and Gavin Smith at a Las Vegas hot spot. Although you have to be in Las Vegas and 21 to cash in this prize hilarity and hijinks will ensue once you meet up with the guys for drinks. PokerRoad will give you $150 to pay for your beverages. Value: $650.
9th Place: Poker Players International Tournament Buy-In
A buy-in entry for the inaugural PPI tournament to be held in Atlantic City in 2010. Value, a minimum of $500 and could go as high as $1,000.
10th Place: Kid Poker's Hour of Power*
One hour of instruction from Pokerstars.net Million Dollar Challenge star Daniel Negreanu. This is a chance to get inside the mind of Kid Poker and learn what has taken him to the top of the game. Value: $500.
11th Place: Pick Jamie Gold's Brain*
One-hour of instruction from 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jamie Gold to find out what he has learned about the game since winning the Main Event. Find out what top pros like Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Johnny Chan have taught Jamie in recent years. Value: $500.
12th Place: Winning Tips from Tom McEvoy*
One hour of tutoring from 1983 World Series of Poker Main Event champion and 2009 WSOP Champions Invitational winner Tom McEvoy. Considering that Tom has over $2.9 million in career tournament winning, there should be plenty to talk about. Value: $500.
13th Place: Lady Maverick’s Cram Session*
One hour of coaching from PokerStars Pro Vanessa Rousso. Make sure to take advantage of your time with this highflier as Vanessa has proven to be a force on the poker scene. Value: $500.
14th Place: High-Stakes Head Games with Matt Glantz*
One hour of instruction with this high-stakes ace and recent European Poker Tour, London, High Roller winner. This is a unique opportunity to get inside the head of this cash-game machine to see what he does to terrorize his opponents. Value: $500.
15th Place: Poker Battlefield Tactics with the DonkeyBomber* One hour of instruction from 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom "DonkeyBomber" Schneider. Learn the tactics this pro uses to blow up the WSOP fields. Value: $500.
16th Place: The Bluff Magazine Sports Nut Package
A personal tour and behind-the-scenes look at the worldwide leader in sports TV in Bristol, Conn. This backstage pass is truly a sports enthusiast's fantasy. In addition to the backstage pass, Bluff will provide the winner with $200 in spending money and a subscription to the magazine. Value: $450.
17th Place: Punishment Athletics Gear Package
A clothing package donated by former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz . The package includes an autographed book, a shirt, a tank top, Original Tito Flamed shorts, a beanie and an autographed 8 X 10. Value: $200.
18th Place: SpadeClub One Year Pass
A one-year subscription to SpadeClub courtesy of Card Player Magazine. Value: $150
19th Place: Autographed PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge Chip Set
A PokerStars chip set autographed by the celebrities and poker pros from the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge. Value: $150.
20th through 22nd Place: The Wicked Chops Audio Blast
A pair of Skull Candy headphones from the guys at Wicked Chops Poker. Value: $50.
23rd through 24th Place: PokerRoad Gear Package
A PokerRoad shirt, hoody and hat. Value: $50.
25th Place: PPI Gear Package
A grab bag of PPI gear including a PPI Scottevest shirt, a hat and a pullover. Value: $50.
26th Place: Ace on the River Package
An autographed copy of Barry Greenstein's book Ace on the River, a Poker Road shirt and hat. Value: $35.
27th through 32nd Place: Oops: I Won Too Much Money! Package
An autographed copy of Tom Schneider's book Oops, I Won Too Much Money containing Tom's tips on how to take his success in the board room and transfer it to the poker table. Value: $20.
33rd through 43nd Place: One Year Subscription to Bluff Magazine Value: $19.95.
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44th through 49th Place: Pokerati T-shirt. Value: $15.
The winners of these prizes will receive a Pokerati T-shirt.
50th Place: PokerRoad T-shirt. Value: $15.
*All coaching sessions will take place over the phone or through Skype.
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